On the eve of the polling day for what now has become the dirtiest of all electoral contests, the only thing left for us who love this country to do is to pray.
Pray for a new dawn to break forth
Pray for the curse of racial politics to be broken
Pray for righteousness and justice to be established in this nation
Amen Amen Amen
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
At last, the silence has been broken
Our PM in waiting has at last broken his silence over the disruption of the Bar Council forum on Saturday. I particularly like the following statement made by him as reported in Malaysiakini.
"I have tried to get Muslim leaders to appreciate the fact that we must allow a discussion (on religious issues). If you're not confident (to discuss the matter), then there's something wrong with our belief and faith. You must be confident to express, counter and argue."
If only all Muslims in this country heed his advice there wouldn't be such ugly episode in the future. That applies to us non Muslims as well. If I tell you your religion is a fraud, are you going to bash me up or engage me intellectually to persuade me it isn't. Even if I can't be persuaded you can just leave me alone and let your God or gods deal with me.
Yes, express, counter and argue. And not asking some species to go back to China or other races to go to hell.
"I have tried to get Muslim leaders to appreciate the fact that we must allow a discussion (on religious issues). If you're not confident (to discuss the matter), then there's something wrong with our belief and faith. You must be confident to express, counter and argue."
If only all Muslims in this country heed his advice there wouldn't be such ugly episode in the future. That applies to us non Muslims as well. If I tell you your religion is a fraud, are you going to bash me up or engage me intellectually to persuade me it isn't. Even if I can't be persuaded you can just leave me alone and let your God or gods deal with me.
Yes, express, counter and argue. And not asking some species to go back to China or other races to go to hell.
ISA and Pakatan Rakyat (Updated)
It was my belief and hope that if PR were to come into power, they will abolish the ISA. There is always the lingering doubt that they may not do so or just drag their feet. Now a DAP state assemblyman from Senawang and state deputy chief P Gunasekaran has come out with a statement that those demonstrators at last Saturday Bar Council forum should be arrested under the ISA.
So now we have a DAP leader who thinks using the ISA is OK. I'm sure there may be more who have the same opinions especially if the ISA can be used against their political opponents from UMNO & MCA. ISA is always a convenient tool for the ruling party to stay in power. Would you deprived yourself of such a powerful tool?
Unless the DAP leadership condemns and take disciplinary action against their assemblyman, I'm not convinced that PR will have the political will to abolish the ISA once they come into power. Whilst what was said by that assemblyman may not reflect the position of DAP, it's certainly saddens me to see more and more leaders of the PR behaving like the other side.
Update
Gunasekaran has denied that he made such statement as reported by The Star. Can you trust what you read in the papers anymore?
So now we have a DAP leader who thinks using the ISA is OK. I'm sure there may be more who have the same opinions especially if the ISA can be used against their political opponents from UMNO & MCA. ISA is always a convenient tool for the ruling party to stay in power. Would you deprived yourself of such a powerful tool?
Unless the DAP leadership condemns and take disciplinary action against their assemblyman, I'm not convinced that PR will have the political will to abolish the ISA once they come into power. Whilst what was said by that assemblyman may not reflect the position of DAP, it's certainly saddens me to see more and more leaders of the PR behaving like the other side.
Update
Gunasekaran has denied that he made such statement as reported by The Star. Can you trust what you read in the papers anymore?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Deafening Silence and Political Expediency
It has now been more than 60 hours since the forum organized by the Bar Council was disrupted by a bunch of extremists. One of the leaders happened to be a PKR MP, Zulkifli Nordin who threatened to storm the Bar Council building if the forum continue to carry on.
60 hours and not a single reaction from our PM in-waiting other than a statement by PKR's deputy president that he agreed with de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s view that the dialogue session should have been organised behind closed doors “in view of the sensitive reactions and wrong perception among a section of the Malay-Muslim population”.
I thought only Pak Lah knows how to remain silent.
For the sake of political expediency, courage fails our PM in-waiting.
It's also reported in Malaysiakini that Penang CM Lim Guan Eng said;
"We should understand the pain and suffering of a Malay Muslim family if their child whom they had so lovingly brought up as a Muslim, suddenly converts out of Islam and becomes a non-Muslim, as they say, "like cutting out one's own flesh".
Mr. CM, will you also understand the pain and suffering of families whose bodies of loved ones were forcibly snatched away by Islamic authorities? Will you also understand the grief of a mother whose right over her own child were taken away from her?
Well, I guess I understand Mr. CM. It's has to do with the coming by-election in Permatang Pauh, right? You just want to be politically correct. If the by-election were to be held in PJ Utara, I guess you will ask us to understand the pain and suffering of non Muslims families.
60 hours and not a single reaction from our PM in-waiting other than a statement by PKR's deputy president that he agreed with de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s view that the dialogue session should have been organised behind closed doors “in view of the sensitive reactions and wrong perception among a section of the Malay-Muslim population”.
I thought only Pak Lah knows how to remain silent.
For the sake of political expediency, courage fails our PM in-waiting.
It's also reported in Malaysiakini that Penang CM Lim Guan Eng said;
"We should understand the pain and suffering of a Malay Muslim family if their child whom they had so lovingly brought up as a Muslim, suddenly converts out of Islam and becomes a non-Muslim, as they say, "like cutting out one's own flesh".
Mr. CM, will you also understand the pain and suffering of families whose bodies of loved ones were forcibly snatched away by Islamic authorities? Will you also understand the grief of a mother whose right over her own child were taken away from her?
Well, I guess I understand Mr. CM. It's has to do with the coming by-election in Permatang Pauh, right? You just want to be politically correct. If the by-election were to be held in PJ Utara, I guess you will ask us to understand the pain and suffering of non Muslims families.
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